Elected Lawmakers Urge Action to Protect Kali Gandaki River Amid Escalating Exploitation

Baglung. Newly elected members of parliament from Baglung and Parbat have expressed concern over the conservation of the Kali Gandaki River. As the river, the only source of Shaligrams (sacred stones), is being rapidly exploited, they have jointly requested a halt to the extraction activities through a joint statement.

Sushil Khadka, elected from Baglung-1, Som Sharma from Baglung-2, and Sagar Bhusal from Parbat, issued a joint statement urging an immediate stop to the exploitation. The statement mentioned that immediate steps must be taken to preserve the river's natural, religious, and cultural significance.

The statement highlighted that Shaligrams, considered symbols of Lord Vishnu in religious faith, hold a special place in Nepal's religious and cultural identity. However, uncontrolled excavation in the river is severely impacting its ecological balance and cultural heritage.

Stating that the river exploitation activities are against Nepali law, they demanded an immediate halt to such actions and strict legal action against the perpetrators. They noted that these activities also affect the right to a clean environment and religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution.

They have demanded that the Kali Gandaki River be declared a specially protected area. They also committed to formally raising this issue in the upcoming session of parliament and initiating necessary policy and legal arrangements for its long-term conservation.

'We strongly demand that declaring the Kali Gandaki River a specially protected area, in line with point 89 of the manifesto of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, be made a priority for the upcoming government,' the statement read.

They committed to formally presenting this issue in parliament as soon as the session begins and advancing the necessary policy and legal initiatives to ensure the long-term conservation of the Kali Gandaki River.